YELLOW FLAG 137 



The stigma forms a flap on the outer side, just over the anther, with 

 a point below the stigmatic lamella. An insect seeking honey pushes 

 its way between the outer perianth-segments and the style, the anther 

 being between. It must rub its back against the anther, which opens 

 outwards. In returning from its honey (juest it does not toucl: the 

 stigmatic surface of the stigma which is above, but does this on 

 entering already dusted with pollen from a previous Hower. 



The \ ellow Flag is visiteil 1)\- Boiiihiis. Osiiiia. Honey-bees, and 

 a fly. Rliingia rostra/ a. 



1 he capsule opc:ns above, and allows the smooth llattened seeds, 

 when blown by the wind, to fall some distance away. 



"\'ellow Flag is a peat-loving j)lant, growing in a ]ieat soil, or 

 pelophilous on a clay soil. 



The fungi Puccinia iridis. Credo iridis, attack the Yellow Flag. 

 Several beetles are found on it, .Iplilhoiia Jioi/-s/riafa. A. />oii(icrosa, 

 Mononychns, and two Lepidoptera, the Crescent {.Ipauica fibrosa), the 

 Double-lobed [A. ophiograrnnia). 



Ins, Theophrastus, is the Greek ibr rainbow. Pscndacorns. 

 Linnseus, is Greek for false acorus, Acorus being the generic name of 

 the Sweet Flag or Galingale. 



There are many English names, e.g. Butter-and-Eggs, Cegge, 

 Cheiper, Cucumbers, Daggers, Dragon-flower, Flag, Water or Yellow 

 Flag, Flaggan, Flagons, Fliggers, Yellow Flower-de-luce, Jacob's 

 Sword, Laister, Laver, Levers, Livers, Lug, Maiken, Meklin, Yellow 

 Saggan, Sedge, Seag, Seggs, Water Seg, Seggin, Shakier, Skeg, 

 Sword Flag, Water Lily. It is called Cheiper, " because children 

 make a shrill noise with its leaves". The name Cucumbers refers 

 to the seed-vessels, which when green resemble young cucumbers. 

 Fliggers was applied to it from the motion of its leaves by the slightest 

 impulse of the air. As to the name Flower-de-luce, Shakespeare 



writes: — 



"Awake, awake, En<;lish nobility! 

 Let not .sloth dim j'our honours new-begot. 

 Cropp'ci are the flower-de-luces in your arms; 

 Of England's coat one half is cut awa\-." 



Spenser also includes it: — 



"Show me the grounde with daffadowntlillies 

 And cowslips, and kingcups, and loved lillies, 

 The pretie pawnee 

 And the chevisaunce 

 Shall march with the fa\-re flowre delice". 



